On June 10 2017 12:48 DARKING wrote: Match fixing is bad, so I can see why Punk and Coffee got punished, but smurfing? I'm guessing the context here is important, because just smurfing does not seem a terrible thing to do. What were the specific circumstances about the smurfing in this case?
They smurfed on other's accounts to play in tournaments on their behalf. What this should be called in English?
Account sharing perhaps?
Worse than that, they knowingly competed in tournaments on behalf of other players.
Sounds like good ole fashioned fraud or false pretenses.
On a more serious note, how is that the ban only last for a year or two? Blizzard should just ban them from entering Blizzard sponsored tournaments ever again.
ah edit: I'll also add in terms of "punishment", it's quite well documented that harsher punishments don't generally serve as a deterrent to breaking rules. A key objective of the players in this case is probably at the fundamental issue of sc2 right now... which is that it is hard to make a real living outside of korea. If you can clearly see that even if you get a ban, and you make a few $KK more than you can make legitimately playing in tournaments during that time then these people are probably going to take the chance. You'll take it, the money you have received, and try to move on. Obviously, under the hope that they don't actually think they'll get caught.
It's pretty much impossible to make a real living in Korea without KeSPA teams paying 60k a year to top players. Right now, there are teams paying top top Korean Pros 500-1000 a month (it might be higher than 1000 and I hope it is, but it's documented that it's as low as 500), but that's not enough to make a "real living". Of course every little bit counts. That can't be ignored. I'm sure the players love the support and it's good for the scene to have teams, but it's not what it was before when players were being adequately (adequately might even be a generous way to describe it) compensated for skipping university to play a game.
Side note: streaming in now way compares to the lost 60k a year. Watch streams of top Koreans and add up how much they make in donations. It's like trying to dam a river with a pebble.
I think it's just down to Starcraft 2 not being a big enough game anymore to warrant "high" salaries. It's unfortunate that these players aren't getting paid much but that's just how it is when fewer and fewer people are watching the game.
On June 10 2017 13:21 digmouse wrote: Silky was punished harsher than other smurfers because he was not behaving honestly in front of solid evidence. Punk and Coffee's matchfixing game was a GPL match on May 4th when Punk "accidentally" detonated 40+ banelings, the match fix have monetary benefits involved thus was a serious matter.
If he uses grid I'm almost inclined to believe him.
On June 10 2017 13:21 digmouse wrote: Silky was punished harsher than other smurfers because he was not behaving honestly in front of solid evidence. Punk and Coffee's matchfixing game was a GPL match on May 4th when Punk "accidentally" detonated 40+ banelings, the match fix have monetary benefits involved thus was a serious matter.
If he uses grid I'm almost inclined to believe him.
Cmon detonating banelings doesn't mean anything, it happened to the best
On June 10 2017 15:41 valas991 wrote: So, upcoming chinese player match-fix, 1,5-2 year ban A well known player (Life) match-fixes, perma ban.
I understand that they are different region, and different kind of players, but they did the same crime,in same game, should've same punishments imo.
Unlike life, not that many money is involved. it is more like the old Byun/Coca story.
It's a tad more severe than that as tournament spots/WCS points and some money were involved.
How are the reactions from Chinese fans?
Obviously outrage from most ppl. However some are blaming xiaose and F91 for hogging all the resources in the Chinese scene. "The SC2 godfather" as they say. They claim that these impoverished players did it for money becuz the scboys refused to share the cake despite rolling in money.
Doesn't make any sense since those two took money out of their own pockets to host tournaments but w/e.
The attitude from some of these players also did not help. One claimed everyone was doing it he was just unlucky to get caught (he was paid 40 dollars to go easy on his opponent, which according to him was commonplace). Another said he can still make money from streaming (xiaose said he'd make sure that won't happen).
On June 10 2017 15:41 valas991 wrote: So, upcoming chinese player match-fix, 1,5-2 year ban A well known player (Life) match-fixes, perma ban.
I understand that they are different region, and different kind of players, but they did the same crime,in same game, should've same punishments imo.
Unlike life, not that many money is involved. it is more like the old Byun/Coca story.
It's a tad more severe than that as tournament spots/WCS points and some money were involved.
How are the reactions from Chinese fans?
Obviously outrage from most ppl. However some are blaming xiaose and F91 for hogging all the resources in the Chinese scene. "The SC2 godfather" as they say. They claim that these impoverished players did it for money becuz the scboys refused to share the cake despite rolling in money.
Doesn't make any sense since those two took money out of their own pockets to host tournaments but w/e.
The attitude from some of these players also did not help. One claimed everyone was doing it he was just unlucky to get caught (he was paid 40 dollars to go easy on his opponent, which according to him was commonplace). Another said he can still make money from streaming (xiaose said he'd make sure that won't happen).
Actually, it is true that Xiaose and F91 earned a lot. However, most Chinese Starcraft II players and viewers play the game and watch the streaming not because of the game, but mainly because it is Xiaose and F91 streaming and playing the game. So, it makes sense that Xiaose and F91 earn a lot from Chinese Starcraft II market. Also, those who said "scboy refused to share the cake" is not appropriate. Xiaose and F91 also knows their profits is depending on the Chinese Starcraft II market; they tried their best to help Chinese Starcraft II players. For example, Xiaose and F91 sponsor (the money is from their own income and those who sponsored by them do not need to advertise SCBOY) at least one of Chinese players to attend every WCS events such as the WCS austin; also, recently they decided to sponsor (the sponsor money is also from their own income) two Chinese "new generation" players (they hold a match to select two Chinese players, the selected are Silky and Coffee however they will be replaced due to matchfixing and smurfing) to have trainings in Korea.
On June 11 2017 15:06 CUTtheCBC wrote: wow Blizzard just destroyed the entire Chinese scene.. couldn't they have gone with a softer punishment?
Not as bad as you think tbh. And the punishment is already quite lenient.
So after reading the thread and not knowing very much about Chinese SCII besides for the old guys like MacSed, what does this mean for Chinese SCII? I know the scene is going through a downturn right now, so what does it mean for the scene in general? I'm really curious as someone who is wayyyy out of the loop rn.
On June 11 2017 15:06 CUTtheCBC wrote: wow Blizzard just destroyed the entire Chinese scene.. couldn't they have gone with a softer punishment?
Not as bad as you think tbh. And the punishment is already quite lenient.
So after reading the thread and not knowing very much about Chinese SCII besides for the old guys like MacSed, what does this mean for Chinese SCII? I know the scene is going through a downturn right now, so what does it mean for the scene in general? I'm really curious as someone who is wayyyy out of the loop rn.
7 less active players to participate in tournaments, definitely could hurt the scene to an extent, but the scene is getting a lot more new comers due to active involvement of Netease on talent scouting and exposure, plus more grass root and official tournament support means players have more and more incentive to practice and improve.
The match fixing and smurfing are relatively small scale and do not bear the same impact without illegal betting org influences, so the damage is limited, at least based on current evidence.
Lastly the scene generally accepts that the players did the wrong thing out of youth ignorance, and is generally taking a soft approach on them.
On June 12 2017 06:10 evolsiefil wrote: and to think life is apparently banned for life for doing the same thing. i think its time to pardon life once 2 years have passed.
I'd agree with your 2 year pardon; however, the courts in korea found him guilty of criminal activity contingent on a 3 year suspension. Based on the legality of the courts in his case, or any case for that matter, I'd always defer the reexamination period to the time that the courts decide as punishment; in his case, 3 years. Else, we'd kind of be undercutting the decision passed by the justice system in that region (or any region if we did such a thing). It should be mentioned of course, comparing cases that go through such legal systems vs those that don't are vastly different.
Regardless, the KR scene will never except him back and it's something we all have to accept.